And it happenedוַיְהִיin thoseבַּ הָהֵםdays,יָּמִיםwhen there was noוּ אֵיןkingמֶלֶךְin Israel,בְּיִשְׂרָאֵלthat there wasוַיְהִיa man,אִישׁa Levite,לֵוִיresiding as an alienגָּרin the remote partsבְּיַרְכְּתֵיof the hill countryהַרof Ephraim,אֶפְרַיִםand he tookוַיִּקַּחfor himselfלוֹa concubineאִשָּׁה פִילֶגֶשׁfrom Bethlehemמִבֵּית לֶחֶםof Judah.יְהוּדָה
But his concubineוַ פִּילַגְשׁוֹprostituted herselfתִּזְנֶהagainst himעָלָיוand went awayוַתֵּלֶךְfrom himמֵאִתּוֹtoאֶלher father’sאָבִיהָhouseבֵּיתatאֶלBethlehemבֵּית לֶחֶםof Judah,יְהוּדָהand she wasוַתְּהִיthereשָׁםfor some time,יָמִיםfourאַרְבָּעָהmonths.חֳדָשִׁים
Then her husbandוַ אִישָׁהּaroseיָּקָםand wentוַיֵּלֶךְafter herאַחֲרֶיהָto speakלְדַבֵּרto her heart,עַל לִבָּהּto bring her back;לַהֲשִׁיבָהּand his young manוְנַעֲרוֹwas with him,עִמּוֹand a pairוְצֶמֶדof donkeys.חֲמֹרִיםAnd she brought himוַתְּבִיאֵהוּinto her father’sאָבִיהָhouse,בֵּיתand when the fatherוַ אֲבִיof the young womanהַנַּעֲרָהsaw him,יִּרְאֵהוּhe rejoicedוַיִּשְׂמַחto meet him.לִקְרָאתוֹ
And his father-in-law,וַ חֹתְנוֹthe fatherאֲבִיof the young woman,הַנַּעֲרָהdetainedיֶּחֱזַקhim,בּוֹand he stayedוַיֵּשֶׁבwith himאִתּוֹthreeשְׁלֹשֶׁתdays;יָמִיםand they ateוַיֹּאכְלוּand drankוַיִּשְׁתּוּand spent the nightוַיָּלִינוּthere.שָׁם
And it happenedוַיְהִיon the fourthבַּ הָרְבִיעִיdayיּוֹםthat they rose earlyוַיַּשְׁכִּימוּin the morning,בַבֹּקֶרand he aroseוַיָּקָםto go;לָלֶכֶתbut the fatherוַ אֲבִיof the young womanהַנַּעֲרָהsaidיֹּאמֶרtoאֶלhis son-in-law,חֲתָנוֹ“Sustainסְעָדyour heartלִבְּךָwith a morselפַּתof bread,לֶחֶםand afterwardוְאַחַרyou may go.”תֵּלֵכוּ
So they sat downוַיֵּשְׁבוּand ate,וַיֹּאכְלוּthe two of themשְׁנֵיהֶםtogether,יַחְדָּוand drank;וַיִּשְׁתּוּand the fatherוַ אֲבִיof the young womanהַנַּעֲרָהsaidיֹּאמֶרtoאֶלthe man,הָאִישׁ“Pleaseנָאconsentהוֹאֶלto spend the night,וְלִיןand let your heartוְ לִבֶּךָbe merry.”יִטַב
And the manוַ הָאִישׁaroseיָּקָםto go,לָלֶכֶתbut his father-in-lawחֹתְנוֹpressedוַיִּפְצַרhim,בּוֹand he turned backוַיָּשָׁבand spent the nightוַיָּלֶןthere.שָׁם
On the fifthבַּ הַחֲמִישִׁיdayיּוֹםhe rose earlyוַיַּשְׁכֵּםin the morningבַּבֹּקֶרto go,לָלֶכֶתand the fatherוַ אֲבִיof the young womanהַנַּעֲרָהsaid,יֹּאמֶר“Sustain,סְעָדplease,נָאyour heart,לְבָבְךָand lingerוְהִתְמַהְמְהוּuntilעַדthe dayהַיּוֹםdeclines.”נְטוֹתSo the two of themשְׁנֵיהֶםate.וַיֹּאכְלוּ
And the manוַ הָאִישׁaroseיָּקָםto go,לָלֶכֶתheהוּאand his concubineוּפִילַגְשׁוֹand his young man;וְנַעֲרוֹbut his father-in-law,וַ חֹתְנוֹthe fatherאֲבִיof the young woman,הַנַּעֲרָהsaidיֹּאמֶרto him,לוֹ“Look,הִנֵּהplease,נָאthe dayהַיּוֹםhas wanedרָפָהtoward evening;לַעֲרֹבspend the night,לִינוּplease.נָאLook,הִנֵּהthe dayהַיּוֹםis ending;חֲנוֹתspend the nightלִיןhere,פֹּהand let your heartוְ לְבָבֶךָbe merry;יִיטַבand tomorrowמָחָרyou can rise earlyוְהִשְׁכַּמְתֶּםfor your journeyלְדַרְכְּכֶםand goוְהָלַכְתָּto your tent.”לְאֹהָלֶךָ
But the manוְ הָאִישׁwas notלֹאwillingאָבָהto spend the night;לָלוּןhe aroseוַיָּקָםand wentוַיֵּלֶךְand cameוַיָּבֹאas far asעַדoppositeנֹכַחJebus,יְבוּסthat isהִיאJerusalem;יְרוּשָׁלִָםand with himוְעִמּוֹwere a pairצֶמֶדof saddledחֲבוּשִׁיםdonkeys,חֲמוֹרִיםand his concubineוּפִילַגְשׁוֹwas with him.עִמּוֹ
Theyהֵםwere nearעִםJebus,יְבוּסand the dayוְהַיּוֹםwas far spent,רַד מְאֹדand the young manוַ הַנַּעַרsaidיֹּאמֶרtoאֶלhis master,אֲדֹנָיו“Come,לְכָהplease,נָּאand let us turn asideוְנָסוּרָהtoאֶלthisהַזֹּאתcityעִירof the Jebusiteהַיְבוּסִיand spend the nightוְנָלִיןin it.”בָּהּ
But his masterוַ אֲדֹנָיוsaidיֹּאמֶרto him,אֵלָיו“We will notלֹאturn asideנָסוּרtoאֶלa cityעִירof foreignersנָכְרִיwhoאֲשֶׁרare notלֹאof the sonsמִבְּנֵיof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלhere;הֵנָּהwe will pass onוְעָבַרְנוּas far asעַדGibeah.”גִּבְעָה
And he saidוַיֹּאמֶרto his young man,לְנַעֲרוֹ“Come,לְךָand let us approachוְנִקְרְבָהoneבְּאַחַדof the placesהַמְּקֹמוֹתand spend the nightוְלַנּוּin Gibeahבַגִּבְעָהorאוֹin Ramah.”בָרָמָה
So they passed onוַיַּעַבְרוּand went,וַיֵּלֵכוּand the sunוַ הַשֶּׁמֶשׁwent downתָּבֹאon themלָהֶםnearאֵצֶלGibeah,הַגִּבְעָהwhichאֲשֶׁרbelongs to Benjamin.לְבִנְיָמִן
And they turned asideוַיָּסֻרוּthereשָׁםto go inלָבוֹאto spend the nightלָלוּןin Gibeah;בַּגִּבְעָהand he went inוַיָּבֹאand sat downוַיֵּשֶׁבin the squareבִּרְחוֹבof the city,הָעִירbut there was noוְאֵיןoneאִישׁtakingמְאַסֵּףthemאוֹתָםinto the houseהַבַּיְתָהto spend the night.לָלוּן
And look,וְהִנֵּהan oldזָקֵןmanאִישׁwas comingבָּאfrom his workמִן מַעֲשֵׂהוּfrom the fieldמִן הַשָּׂדֶהin the evening.בָּעֶרֶבThe manוְהָאִישׁwas from the hill countryמֵהַרof Ephraim,אֶפְרַיִםand heוְהוּאwas residing as an alienגָרin Gibeah;בַּגִּבְעָהbut the menוְאַנְשֵׁיof the placeהַמָּקוֹםwere Benjaminites.בְּנֵי יְמִינִי
And he lifted upוַיִּשָּׂאhis eyesעֵינָיוand sawוַיַּרְאthe man,אֶת הָאִישׁthe traveler,הָאֹרֵחַin the squareבִּרְחֹבof the city;הָעִירand the oldהַזָּקֵןmanהָאִישׁsaid,וַיֹּאמֶר“Whereאָנָהare you going,תֵלֵךְand whereוּמֵאַיִןdo you come from?”תָּבוֹא
And he saidוַיֹּאמֶרto him,אֵלָיו“Weאֲנַחְנוּare passingעֹבְרִיםfrom Bethlehemמִבֵּית לֶחֶםof Judahיְהוּדָהtoעַדthe remote partsיַרְכְּתֵיof the hill countryהַרof Ephraim;אֶפְרַיִםfrom thereמִשָּׁםI am.אָנֹכִיI wentוָאֵלֵךְtoעַדBethlehemבֵּית לֶחֶםof Judah,יְהוּדָהand I am goingוְ אֲנִי הֹלֵךְto the houseאֶת בֵּיתof YHWH,יְהוָהand there is noוְאֵיןoneאִישׁtakingמְאַסֵּףmeאוֹתִיinto the house.הַבָּיְתָה
And there isיֵשׁbothוְגַםstrawתֶּבֶןandגַּםfodderמִסְפּוֹאfor our donkeys,לַחֲמוֹרֵינוּand alsoוְגַםthere isיֶשׁbreadלֶחֶםand wineוָיַיִןfor meלִיand for your maidservantוְלַאֲמָתֶךָand for the young manוְלַנַּעַרwho is withעִםyour servants;עֲבָדֶיךָthere is noאֵיןlackמַחְסוֹרof anyכָּלthing.”דָּבָר
And the oldהַזָּקֵןmanהָאִישׁsaid,וַיֹּאמֶר“Peaceשָׁלוֹםto you.לָךְOnlyרַקlet allכָּלyour needsמַחְסוֹרְךָbe on me;עָלָיonlyרַקdo notאַלspend the nightתָּלַןin the square.”בָּרְחוֹב
So he brought himוַיְבִיאֵהוּinto his houseלְבֵיתוֹand gave fodderוַיָּבָולto the donkeys;לַחֲמוֹרִיםand they washedוַיִּרְחֲצוּtheir feetרַגְלֵיהֶםand ateוַיֹּאכְלוּand drank.וַיִּשְׁתּוּ
Theyהֵמָּהwere making their hearts merry,מֵיטִיבִים אֶת לִבָּםwhenוְהִנֵּהthe menאַנְשֵׁיof the city,הָעִירperverseבְנֵי בְלִיַּעַלmen,אַנְשֵׁיsurroundedנָסַבּוּthe house,אֶת הַבַּיִתbeatingמִתְדַּפְּקִיםonעַלthe door;הַדָּלֶתand they spokeוַיֹּאמְרוּtoאֶלthe oldהַזָּקֵןman,הָאִישׁthe masterבַּעַלof the house,הַבַּיִתsaying,לֵאמֹר“Bring outהוֹצֵאthe manאֶת הָאִישׁwhoאֲשֶׁרcameבָּאintoאֶלyour house,בֵּיתְךָso that we may know him.”וְנֵדָעֶנּוּ
And the man,וַ הָאִישׁthe masterבַּעַלof the house,הַבַּיִתwent outיֵּצֵאto themאֲלֵיהֶםand saidוַיֹּאמֶרto them,אֲלֵהֶם“No,אַלmy brothers,אַחַיdo notאַלdo evil,תָּרֵעוּplease;נָאsinceאַחֲרֵי אֲשֶׁרthisהַזֶּהmanהָאִישׁhas comeבָּאintoאַלmy house,בֵּיתִיdo notאַלcommitתַּעֲשׂוּthisהַזֹּאתinfamy.אֶת הַנְּבָלָה
Look,הִנֵּהmy daughter,בִתִּיthe virgin,הַבְּתוּלָהand his concubine:וּפִילַגְשֵׁהוּlet me bring outאוֹצִיאָה נָּאthemאוֹתָםand humiliateוְעַנּוּthemאוֹתָםand doוַעֲשׂוּto themלָהֶםwhat is goodהַטּוֹבin your eyes;בְּעֵינֵיכֶםbut to thisוְלָ הַזֶּהmanאִישׁdo notלֹאdoתַעֲשׂוּthe deedדְּבַרof thisהַזֹּאתinfamy.”הַנְּבָלָה
But the menוְ הָאֲנָשִׁיםwere notלֹאwillingאָבוּto listenלִשְׁמֹעַto him.לוֹSo the manוַ הָאִישׁtook holdיַּחֲזֵקof his concubineבְּפִילַגְשׁוֹand brought her outוַיֹּצֵאto themאֲלֵיהֶםoutside;הַחוּץand they knewוַיֵּדְעוּherאוֹתָהּand abusedוַיִּתְעַלְּלוּherבָהּallכָּלnightהַלַּיְלָהuntilעַדthe morning,הַבֹּקֶרand they let her goוַיְשַׁלְּחוּהָasכַּthe dawnהַשָּׁחַרcame up.עֲלוֹת
And the womanוַ הָאִשָּׁהcameתָּבֹאat the approachלִפְנוֹתof morningהַבֹּקֶרand fell downוַתִּפֹּלat the entranceפֶּתַחof the houseבֵּיתof the manהָאִישׁwhereאֲשֶׁר שָּׁםher masterאֲדוֹנֶיהָwas,untilעַדit was light.הָאוֹר
And her masterוַ אֲדֹנֶיהָaroseיָּקָםin the morningבַּבֹּקֶרand openedוַיִּפְתַּחthe doorsדַּלְתוֹתof the houseהַבַּיִתand went outוַיֵּצֵאto goלָלֶכֶתon his way;לְדַרְכּוֹand look,וְהִנֵּהthe woman,הָאִשָּׁהhis concubine,פִילַגְשׁוֹwas fallenנֹפֶלֶתat the entranceפֶּתַחof the house,הַבַּיִתwith her handsוְיָדֶיהָonעַלthe threshold.הַסַּף
And he saidוַיֹּאמֶרto her,אֵלֶיהָ“Get up,קוּמִיand let us go.”וְנֵלֵכָהBut there was noוְאֵיןanswer.עֹנֶהThen he took herוַיִּקָּחֶהָonעַלthe donkey,הַחֲמוֹרand the manוַ הָאִישׁaroseיָּקָםand wentוַיֵּלֶךְto his place.לִמְקֹמוֹ
And he cameוַיָּבֹאtoאֶלhis houseבֵּיתוֹand tookוַיִּקַּחthe knife,אֶת הַמַּאֲכֶלֶתand took holdוַיַּחֲזֵקof his concubineבְּפִילַגְשׁוֹand cut her into piecesוַיְנַתְּחֶהָby her bonesלַעֲצָמֶיהָinto twelveלִשְׁנֵים עָשָׂרpieces,נְתָחִיםand sent herוַיְשַׁלְּחֶהָthroughout allבְּכֹלthe territoryגְּבוּלof Israel.יִשְׂרָאֵל
And it happenedוְהָיָהthat allכָלwho saw itהָרֹאֶהsaid,וְאָמַר“Such a thingכָּזֹאתhas notלֹאhappenedנִהְיְתָהorוְלֹאbeen seenנִרְאֲתָהfrom the dayלְמִיּוֹםthat the sonsבְּנֵיof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלcame upעֲלוֹתfrom the landמֵאֶרֶץof Egyptמִצְרַיִםuntilעַדthisהַזֶּהday.הַיּוֹםConsiderשִׂימוּ לָכֶםit,עָלֶיהָtake counsel,עֻצוּand speak.”וְדַבֵּרוּ